Electronic bonding machine



Dec. 30, 1952 H. HACKLANDER ELECTRONIC BONDING MACHINE 2 SHEETS -SHEET 1 Filed NOV. 7, 1947 Fan) 1? d6% ZQUZLkT Whey M Riff/F151? Dec. 30, 1952 H. HACKLANDER ELECTRONIC BONDING MACHINE 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Filed Nov. 7, 1947 l l l i I l I l l 4 v1 JWHWJ Han J .A acizanaz f' Patented Dec. 30, 1952 ELECTRONIC BONDING MACHINE Hans Hacklander, Linden, N. J assignor to The Singer Manufacturing Company, Elizabeth, N. J., a corporation of New Jersey Application November 7, 1947, Serial No. 784,725

This invention relates to machines for bonding pieces of thermoplastic material together by the use of high frequency electric current. The union is effected by the employment of conduction electrodes located on opposite sides of the thermoplastic pieces and electrically connected to a source of alternating high frequency current. The high frequency field between the electrodes softens the contiguous faces of the thermoplastic material so that the union may be effected by pressure applied to the material by the electrodes.

This invention has for one of its objects the provision of a composite machine which is simple in construction, may be easily manufactured and has a work-arm of small dimensions extending outwardly from the base of the machineabout which tubular articles may be formed. Another object of this invention is the provision of novel means for insulating and supporting the lower electrode from the metal base of the machine.

A further object of this invention is to provide novel means for switching on the current to the electrodes when the material is clamped therebetween and to switch off the current when the electrodes are moved apart. A still further obj eot is to provide adjustable means for limiting the minimum distance between the electrodes during the bonding cycle thereby to prevent excessive extrusion of the material along the bonding line.

These and other features of the invention will best be understood from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a left end elevation of a machine having my invention embodied therein.

Fig. 2 is a central vertical sectional view taken along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the electrode adjusting means located above the hollow head of the machine.

Fig. 5 is a schematic illustration of the circuit for transmitting high frequency electric current to the electrodes.

In the embodiment of the invention selected for illustration, my machine comprises an oblong rectangularly shaped hollow metal base [0 to one end of which is attached by the screws l l a split clamp-ring l2. Supported by and clamped in the ring l2 by the screw [3 is a cylindrically shaped work-arm 14 made of insulating material which is moulded around a conductor bar 15 2 Claims. (01. 21947) of circular cross section. The conductor bar 15 extend-s through the clamp-ring l2 and a suitable aperture in the base [0 so as to have one of its ends terminate within the confines of the hollow base l0.

Rising from the base it is a gooseneck or bracket-arm l6 terminating in a hollow head H which overhangs the free end of the work-arm l4. Journaled for endwise vertical movement in bearings l8 and I9 carried by the hollow head is an electrode carrying bar 20 having removably secured to its lower end an upper electrode 30 which cooperates with a lower electrode 3| removably secured to the free end 15 of the conductor bar l5. Adjustably secured by a screw 22 to the electrode bar 20 is a stop member 2| which is adapted to rest upon the top of the bearing bushing l8. The stop 2| is L-shaped (Fig. 3) having two laterally extending arms 23 and 24. The arm 24 is threaded to receive an adjusting screw 25 which extends through a suitable aperture in the head H and is formed with a knurled head 26 which is located above the head and in a position of easy access.

Immediately below the knurled head 26, the screw 25 is formed with spaced apart shoulders 21 and the space between the shoulders receives the bifurcated end 28 of an arm 29 which is secured to the upper end of the electrode bar 20 by the screw 30. The electrode bar 20 is biased downwardly by a bowed spring 32 having one end secured to a leg 33 formed on the frame within the hollow bracket-arm l5 and its free end overlying the arm 23 of the stop 2|.

In order to raise the electrode bar 20 against the action of the spring 32, a lever 34 is pivoted to the frame of the machine by a pivot pin 35. One end of the lever 34 underlies the arm 23 and rests upon a ledge 33 formed in the hollow head H. The end of the lever 34 is spaced from the lower face of the arm 23 to provide loss motion and is spring biased against the ledge 36 by a flat spring 31 which has its free end overlying the lever 34 and its other end secured to the lug 33. The pressure exerted upon the electrode bar 20 by the action of the spring 32 may be regulated by the adjusting screw 38. For the purpose of raising and lowering the electrode bar 20, the end 40 of the lever 34 may be connected by a chain 4| to a treadle (not shown) or the end 40 of the lever may be controlled by a cam 42 fixed to a stub shaft 43 journaled in and passing through the bracket-arm of the machine. To the end of the shaft extending outside the arm there is secured a hand lever 44 which tube oscillator 45 (Fig. which is connected,

through a micro-switch 46 to a direct current rectifier 4! which is connected to the usual 110 volt A. C. circuit. The high frequency oscillator is connected to one end of a coaxial transmissionline having an inner conductor 49 and an outer conductor 56. At the receiving end, the inner conductor 49 enters a suitable opening in the conductor bar l5 (Fig. 2) and is held therein by a screw 5| Also electrically connected to the inner conductor 49 is an inductance coil 52 which has its other end electrically connected to the frame of the machine by a screw 53. The inductance value of the coil 52 is such that the capacitive eifect of the coaxial transmission line is balanced out. Ihe outer conductor 56 of the transmission line is grounded to the frame of the machine by the strap 5 The switch at makes and breaks the circuit to the plates of the electronic tubes and this switch is carried on a boss formed on the frame of the machine and in a position to be actuated by the lever 34. As shown in Fig. 2 there is clearance between the end '34 of the lever 36 and the lower face of the arm 23, thereby providing loss motion between these members, and when the end til or the lever 3t is pushed down by the cam 42 or pulled down by the treadle connection the first movement of the lever 34 breaks the circuit between the rectifier 'l and the oscillatorte thereby shutting off the current to the electrodes 39 and 3|. Further movement of the lever raises the electrode 39 from the work so that it may be removed. Conversely, when the electrode 35 is lowered the material is clamped between the electrodes before the high frequency current is supplied to the electrodes. This arrangement of the parts prevents arcing between the electrodes and permits the operator, by applying a slight pressure to the treadle, to control the turning on and on of the current to the electrodes.

From the above, it will be understood that my improved machine is unitary and may be placed upon a table, indicated as at 55, with the arm [4 extending laterally from the base ll! and over the edge of the table thus forming a free work supporting arm which is free of obstructions. It will also be understood that the shape of'the electrodes may be varied and that they may be 4 arranged longitudinally as well as transversely of the arm [5.

Having thus set forth the nature of the invention, what I claim herein is:

.1. An electronic bonding machine comprising a base, a circularly shaped work-arm of insulating material having one end removably clamped to said base and its other end extending outwardly from said base, a rigid electrical conductor bar embedded therein with its free end extending outwardly therefrom, a lower electrode removably secured to and supported by said conductor bar, an overhanging bracket-arm overlying said work-arm, a movable vertically disposed bar carried by said bracket-arm and having an electrode secured to its lower end, mechanism for raising and lowering said upper electrode, adjustable means for predetermining the lowest point to which said upper electrode may descend, and means under control of the mechanism for raising and lowering the upper electrode for establishing a high frequency field between said electrodes.

2. An electronic bonding machinecomprising a base, a work supporting arm formed of an insulating material extending laterally from said base and terminating in a free end remote from said base, a conductor extending through said arm, an electrode connected to said conductor, a hollow bracket-arm overhanging said work supporting arm, a second electrode carried by said bracket-arm, spring means disposed within said bracketearm for urging said second electrode towards said first electrode, means for supplying a high frequency electrical current to said electrodes, a lever having a lost motion connection with said second electrode for raising and lowering said electrode and a switch under control of said lever for interrupting the currentsup-plied to said electrodes upon the initial movement of said lever when said second electrode is raised.

HANS HACKLANDER.

REFERENCES CITE?) The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Snyder Jan. 23, 1951 

